(Editor’s note: University of Providence athletics release)
PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 4 University of Providence wrestling squad continued its competition in Oregon on Friday as they earned a pair of decisive dual victories over the Warner Pacific Knights, 40-10, and the Simpson Red Hawks, 48-4.
The Argos fell down early, but quickly retook the lead on their way to a 40-10 victory over the Knights.
The Knights would get on the board first as they earned a 16-5 major decision to lead by four following the opening match at 125 pounds.
Eli Walston got things going for the Argos in the 133-pound weight class against Warner Pacific’s Connor Finch. During the first three minutes, Eli Walston earned three takedowns while Finch escaped three times to lead 6-3. Walston collected another takedown and a two-point nearfall to close out the period and extend his lead to seven, 10-3. Walston would garner one more two-point nearfall before claiming the dual with a second-period pin at the 3:36-minute mark and give the Argos the lead, 6-4.
Chris Mesa earned the closest victory of the dual following an 11-9 decision over the Knights’ Lucas Higginbotham. Mesa outscored Higginbotham in the first period earning two takedowns, while Higginbotham escaped from both to take a 4-2 lead into the first break. Mesa chose bottom and earned an escape to bring his lead to three, but Higginbotham responded with a takedown of his own to close out the period and cut the deficit to one, 5-4. Higginbotham tallied a takedown to open the period and take a one-point advantage, 7-6, but Mesa escaped and earned a takedown to retake a two-point lead, 8-6. Both wrestlers would tally three more points to close out the period and put the Argos up by five, 9-4.
No. 6 Shonn Roberts took a first-period pin over Zachery Sias at 149 pounds. Sias earned a takedown over Roberts, but Roberts escaped to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Roberts earned a takedown of his own, which led to 41 second pin to give the Argos a double-digit lead, 15-4.
Warrner Pacific took a 2:13-minute pin at the 157-weight class to cut the deficit down to five, 15-10.
At 165 pounds, No. 2 Adrian Lyons-Lopez responded from the Knights pin to tally a first-period pin of his following his second takedown over Mark Meier, 21-10.
Alex quick extended the Argos lead by three, picking up a 7-4 decision at 174 pounds against Jonathan Moskowitz. Moskowitz earned a takedown, but Quick was able to escape to close out the opening period 2-1. Quick outscored the Knight in the middle period to take a one-point advatange headed into the final two minutes, 4-3. Quick would tally three more points in the final period including a takedown in which Moskowitz was able to escape, but it wasn’t enough as Quick took the match, 24-10.
No. 12 Randy Keesler dominated in route to a 15-4 major decision over the Knights’ Matthew Aguigui. The first two periods remained close as Randy only held a two-point advantage headed into the third period, 5-3. However, the third period was a totally different story as Keesler tallied double-digit points to secure the 15-4 victory, 28-10.
No. 5 John Hensley and No. 4 Matt Hopkins closed the dual out with a pair of first-period pins to secure the huge 30-point victory, 40-10, for the Argos at 2:46 and 35 seconds, respectively.
The Argos tallied another huge victory on Friday as they handed the Red Hawks a 48-4 defeat.
Providence tallied three forfeits at 125, 133, and 141 pounds in route to an 18-0 lead.
At 149 pounds, Simpson’s Adrian Marrufo earned a takedown over Roberts to take the opening lead, but Roberts earned an escape to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Roberts rallied to score a takedown and a four-point nearfall to close out the first period with a 7-2 lead. Roberts tallied a reversal in the second period before earning a pin at the four-minute mark to boost the Argos to a 24-0 lead over the Red Hawks.
In the 157-pound weight class, the first period remained even at zero, but Komac got on the board first with a reversal to take a 2-0 lead into the final period. After Komac tallied a two-point nearfall, Joseph Alexander rallied to score three points, but it wasn’t enough as Komac earned the 4-3 decision, 27-0.
Lyons-Lopez earned a first-period pin to give the Argos a 33-point lead. Lyons-Lopez racked up a 12-point lead before claiming a pin with 20 seconds left in the period over Layten Briggs, 33-0.
Quick earned a 6-4 decision in the 174-pound weight class to maintain the Argos shutout. Simpson’s Rodney Kincaid tallied a takedown to lead 2-0 after the first period. Quick rallied in the second period to tie things up outscoring Kincaid 3-1. The Argos held a 36-0 lead.
The Red Hawks earned their only victory of the dual at 184 pounds as Bryce DeCamargo earned a 12-3 major decision over the Keesler to make it 36-4.
John Hensley and Matthew Hopkins closed things out with two more first-period pins to seal a huge 48-4 win for the Argos. Hensley pinned at 1:52, while Hopkins earned a 49-second pin.
Up Next
The Argos will close out their trip to the Beaver State on Sunday as they compete in the Clackamas Open in Oregon City, Oregon.
